Movable door structure



21, 1967 s. J. PFENDER T AL 3,353,298

MOVABLE DOOR STRUCTURE Filed June 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4 I

Nov. 21', 1967 S. J. PFENDERY ET AL 3,353,298

MOVABLE DOOR STRUCTURE Filed June 17, .1964 5 sheets-sheet 5 worm United States Patent 3,353,298 MOVABLE DOOR STRUCTURE Stephen J. Pfender, 1108 W. Illinois St. 47710, and Thomas E. Pfender, Rte. 1, Frey Road, Box 433 47712, both of Evansville, Ind.

Filed June 17, 1964, Ser. No. 375,765 4 Claims. (Cl. 49-43) The present invention relates to a movable door structure, and more particularly to a new and novel movable door mechanism and installation which provides important advantages over the commonly known rotating doors now in use.

As is known, and particularly in connection with commercial installations, as in supermarkets, for example, it is desirable to maintain a constant inside temperature, irrespective of the season of year, for the comfort of the customers. At the same time, door arrangements are preferable which permit the maintaining of the aforesaid temperature condition while allowing convenient passage of the customers therethrough, either, for example, with packages in their arms or in pushing a grocery cart to a waiting vehicle for transfer of the purchased merchandise.

In this latter connection, it is also important that the commercially installed doors provide ready exit in the event of any emergency situation within the store. Considering the discussed factors, it has been impossible heretofore to employ revolvable or rotating doors in certain commercial installations, either, because of the inability of the latter to receive the desired grocery cart, as in a supermarket installation, for example, or, where the revolving doors do not provide enough room for more than one occupant, as, for example, a mother and her children.

Accordingly, by virtue of the instant invention, the applicants herein have provided a movable door arrangement wherein the doors are spaced apart at intervals which conveniently assure the receiving of an individual, or individuals, and other items, such as a grocery cart, for example; which act positively together in movement, but which, at the same time, are readily movable to an emergency position, and, which, further, incorporates the use of a new and novel door speed controlling device. More specifically, the applicants herein have provided a new and novel movable door assembly which affords an air seal between the locations in which the assembly is installed, and where the spacing of the doors making up the assembly is such that a convenient area is provided for receiving, by way of example, the aforementioned grocery cart and an individual pushing same, in a typical supermarket installation.

Moreover, each of the doors defining the instant invention are positively and readily mounted on channels which provide structural importance in the installation, while a spring-urged driving arrangement assures continual and proper spacing between the doors making up the assembly but, at the same time, permit the ready movement thereof to an emergency position. In this latter instance, and superior to the commonly known rotating door, two outgoing passageways are immediately provided for excellent safety features.

Further, in order to prevent any fast movement of the doors,as by youngsters in play, theapplicants herein have provided a speed control device operable through movement of a floating brake disk which selectively engages a fixed brake disk. In any event, the instant invention provides not only those features broadly mentioned hereabove, but because of its simplicity, lends itself to ready installation in any desired location.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel movable door assembly.

Patented Nov. 21, 1967 Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel movable door assembly wherein the doors are selectively maintained in any desired spaced-apart position with respect to each other, and where the resulting space therebetween permits highly effective use in many specialized installations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel movable door structure wherein the doors are conveniently maintained in their desired operating positions, but which, at the same time, are readily movable to an emergency position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel speed control mechanism for use in connection with a movable door assembly.

A yet further and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel movable door structure wherein the doors are positively mounted in a desired installation location, where an important air lock is provided between spaces on either side of the movable door installation, where manufacturing and installation economies are readily achieved, and where a high degree mounting arrangement typically used in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, also fragmentary, showing the applicants new and novel movable door structure;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section of the instant door positioning arrangement, taken at line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is another top plan view, also fragmentary, showing the position of the doors defining the instant invention in an emergency situation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, also fragmentary, of the nesting relationship between two of the doors when in the position of FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section of the applicants new and novel speed control mechanism, taken at line 77 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur toone skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants new and novel movable door arrangement comprises an installation disposed withinfa walled passageway 12 connecting areas 14 and 15. As is particularly evident from FIGS. 1 and 3, the installation typically includes a plurality of doors 16, spaced an equal distance from each other. Although only four doors are disclosed in the application, it should be understood that some installations may require more, and these can be readily utilized. p

In any event, each door 16, which, incidentally, may be made from aluminum and glass, is mounted, preferably proxirnate both the top and bottom, in channels 18 typically disposed within a dividing bulwark 20 positioned within the passageway 12. More particularly in this re- 3 gard, and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the channels 18 may be mounted within the dividing bulwark 20 through screw means 19 which engage an outwardly extending member 21 secured to such channels 18.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, an angling arm 16a is directed outwardly from the edge of the door 1,6 proximate the dividing bulwark 20, where in one form of mounting element 22, a plate 23 is disposed thereunder and bolt means 25, secured thereto, are provided for receiving wheels 26, the latter serving to position the mounting element 22 with respect to the inner surfaces of the side walls defining the channel 18. A support bracket 27, having arms 27a, extends downwardly from the plate 23, where a wheel 29 is disposed between such arms 27a on an axle 28. The wheel 29 permits movement of the supporting element 22 along the channel 13.

Again referring to FIG. 6, alternate doors 16 have alternate supporting arrangements, the reason for which should become apparent from the discussion herebelow. In any event, another form of mounting element 32 has the same basic components as the mounting element 22 (identified by like reference numerals), but, in this instance, positioned more closely to the bottom of the channel 18. In other words, a plate 23, typically secured to a support bracket 27, as by welding, for example, still receives the bolt-supported wheels 26. Similarly, a wheel 28 is received at an axle 28 at the bottom of the sup port bracket 27, as in regards to the mounting element 22. Such over-all physical rearrangement of components permits close proximity of the mounting elements 22 and 3 2, and a nesting relationship therebetween.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the applicants movable door arrangement is propelled by the user, i.e. each user exerts force against a .door 16 to move the door along the channels 18. Each of the doors 16 is maintained in a preselected spaced-apart position, preferably equidistant from each other, by an assembly comprising pulleys 30 and 31, respectively rotatable about axes 30a and 31a. A flexible continuous belt, such as a commonly known vvbelt 33 is movable with the pulleys 30 and 31. It should be noted that the pulleys 30 and 31 are each of such a radius in a direction away from the dividing bulwark 20 so as to serve .as an inherent door speed reducer, where the latter is especially effective in the bends of the path of travel of the doors.

In this regard, a spring receiving member 35 extends upwardly and towards the movable belt 33 on each door 16, seating a spring 36 about a portion of a plunger 38. The plunger 38 is adapted to be selectively received in recesses 33a disposed in the V-belt 33, where the distance between such recesses 33a controls the distance between the movable doors 16. As should be particularly evident from FIG. 4, the spring 36 normally urges the plunger 38 into its cooperating recess 33a in the V-belt 33 during ordinary use.

If, for any reason, it is desired to release the doors 16 during emergency conditions, the springs 36 can be overcome and each of the doors 16 moved along the channel 18 to the position of FIG. 5. In such a situation, it should be understood that two passageways, both unobstructed, are provided for user evacuation from the spaces 14 and 15 connected by the instant door arrangement. Further in this regard, in such emergency condition, the mounting elements 22 and 32 assume a nesting relationship, mentioned above, and shown in FIG. 6, thereby minimizing the angular departure between each of the doors 16 and providing the aforesaid wide escape passageways on either side of the pulleys 3t) and 31.

In the structure described hereabove, it should be noted that air sealing strips 40 and 41 are provided as an air lock between the spaces 14 and 15 connected by the applicants new and novel movable door arrangement, where such strips 40 and 41 are respectively disposed around the edges of each of the doors 16 and about the spring receiving member 35.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 7, the applicants new and novel speed control device is disclosed, where, it will be noted, the axle 30a has a rotatable toothed gear 51 secured thereto, which toothed gear 51 engages another rotatable toothed gear 52a disposed on an operat ing shaft 52. The instant speed control mechanism is typically disposed within a casing 55 having a cover 55a, where a gasket 56 provides the necessary seal therebetween. As should be evident from FIG. 5, the casing 55 is typically supported on the inner wall of the dividing bulwark 20.

The operating shaft 52 extends through a bearing and seal assembly 57, being seated at its opposite free end within a recess on the inner surface of the casting cover 5511. The mid-portion 52b of the operating shaft 52 is helically threaded, where a rotatable member 58, having vanes 58a, is adapted to move therealong. A disk type brake member 60 is secured to the rotatable member 58, as by welding, for example, and, upon upward movement of the rotatable member 58, is adapted to engage a fixed brake disk 62 disposed on the inner surface of the casing cover 55a. A fluid, such as oil, is provided within the casing 55, where ports 58b in the rotatable member 58 provide for the passage thereof during operation.

When a door 16 is rotated in normal use, the rotatable member 58, with its associated brake member 60, remains in the same relative position. However, when the door 16 is rotated rapidly, and due to action of the oil on the vanes 58a, the rotatable member 58 and brake member 69 move upwardly, ultimately contacting the fixed brake disk 62. After the door resumes a more regular speed, the member 58 moves downwardly towards the position of FIG. 7.

From the preceding, it should be apparent that the applicants herein have provided a new and novel movable door assembly which provides features not present heretofore in devices of this type, including a positive individual door hanging or supporting structure, doors spacedapart in equal increments, a door emergency release feature, and a new and novel speed reducing arrangement. In addition to the preceding, an air seal is provided between the spaces which the door assembly connects.

The movable door arrangement described hereabove is, of course, susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention. For example, dimensioning may be varied and other speed reducing mechanisms may be employed, all with equally effective end results. Moreover, the doors may have a magnet along the bottom edge of each, whereby a recessed continuously operating belt, also having magnets disposed thereon, serves to position each door with respect to the other, still providing the aforesaid desirable safety features when the magnetic attraction is overcome by the user in the instance of an emergency, as well as an over-all power door. In this latter regard, instead of being user propelled, the movable door arrangement herein may be power driven, as by a conventional motor. Further, equivalent endless drive arrangements may be employed, any of such including the cooperable portions with the plunger 38. Thus, the above description should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A movable door structure comprising a support wall, a plurality of doors slidably secured to said support wall adjacent the upper and lower margins thereof, relatively large pulleys journaled on spaced shafts at each end of said support wall, an endless drive arrangement disposed on said relatively large pulleys, gearing disposed on one of said spaced shafts, spring biased elements on said doors engaging spaced-apart stops on said endless drive arrangement, and a speed control device defined by a fluid-containing casing, an operating shaft disposed within said casing, a gear disposed at one end of said operating shaft and cooperable with said gearing disposed on one of said spaced shafts, said operating shaft having 5 v a threaded portion, a vane-carrying member selectively rotatable on said threaded portion of said operating shaft, and a first and second cooperating braking means disposed within said casing, said first braking means disposed on and rotatable with said vane-carrying member, and said second braking means fixedly secured to a portion of said casing.

2. A movable door structure comprising a support wall, a plurality of doors slidably secured to said support wall adjacent the upper and lower margins thereof, relatively large pulleys journaled on spaced shafts at each end of said support Wall, a flexible endless drive belt disposed on said relatively large pulleys having spaced-apart stops thereon, and spring biased elements on said doors engaging said spaced-apart stops.

3. A movable door structure comprising a support wall, a plurality of doors slidably secured to said support wall adjacent the upper and lower margins thereof in an arrangement defined by a support member and wheels mounted on said support member in alternate positions 20 to permit nesting between adjacent doors in an unob- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,674 2/1899 Cobb 20-18 732,982 7/1903 Wendler 2018 2,050,584 8/1936 Pererni et al 20-18 2,128,531 8/1938 Hagenbook 2018 2,478,612 8/1949 Walma 188-90 X 3,060,521 10/1962 Greco 20-191 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A MOVABLE DOOR STRUCTURE COMPRISING A SUPPORT WALL, A PLURALITY OF DOORS SLIDABLY SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT WALL ADJACENT THE UPPER AND LOWER MARGINS THEREOF, RELATIVELY LARGE PULLEYS JOURNALED ON SPACED SHAFTS AT EACH END OF SAID SUPPORT WALL, AN ENDLESS DRIVE ARRANGEMENT DISPOSED ON SAID RELATIVELY LARGE PULLEYS, GEARING DISPOSED ON ONE OF SAID SPACED SHAFTS, SPRING BIASED ELEMENTS ON SAID DOORS ENGAGING SPACED-APART STOPS ON SAID ENDLESS DRIVE ARRANGEMENT, AND A SPEED CONTROL DEVICE DEFINED BY A FLUID-CONTAINING CASING, AN OPERATING SHAFT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CASING, A GEAR DISPOSED AT ONE END OF SAID OPERATING SHAFT AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID GEARING DISPOSED ON ONE OF SAID SPACED SHAFTS, SAID OPERATING SHAFT HAVING A THREADED PORTION, A VANE-CARRYING MEMBER SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ON SAID THREADED PORTION OF SAID OPERATING SHAFT, AND A FIRST AND SECOND COOPERATING BRAKING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID FIRST BRAKING MEANS DISPOSED ON AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID VANE-CARRYING MEMBER, AND SAID SECOND BRAKING MEANS FIXEDLY SECURED TO A PORTION OF SAID CASING. 